Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-18
A Snake Farm.
HOW THE RATTLESNAKES HAVE MADE CAPTAIN sTovEl


RICH.
A correspondent has visited the celebrated
snake farm-"rattlesnake forty"-near Cation, Ill.,
owned and managed by Captain Dan Slower and
wife, and assisted by William Dunn agent at the
Illinois Central Depot. 1t might be SurmiSed that
the breeding and propagation or rattleSnakeS and
other reptiles was not only dangerous but an I'M
pleasant occupation. However, these poor but
honest people have learned that there is money in
snakes, and last year they cleared almost enough
from their sales TO pay the expenses OF the family
OF four.
"WFo buys rattlesnakes, and what on earth do
they want with them?" you ask. Why, for use in
the manufacture OF the new cure for rheumatism
firm in Philadelphia uses the oil in their remedy
and pays good price for every ratteSnake dev-
cred at their laboratory. Mr.. Slower has con-
tracted with the firm TO furnish them $50 OF that
species during the present season at 1925 EACH
none TO measure less than feet In length, be
less than six years OF age. The older the snake
the better and stronger the Oil.
sunday the sun shone out bright and warm
which brought out the snakes in large numbers
TO bask In the warm rays. and, as Mr. Slower said,
would be good day TO take stroll over rattle
snake forty" Procuring good stout stick and
DOMINIC a heavy pair or boots, your CORE
Spondent Joined Slower and Dunn in the hunt.
Dunn Is a comparatively new man in the snake
business and has had several narrow eSca pes from
being bitten by the deadly reptiles, but he is learn
ing last. To show us how easy it is to Kill snake
he picked up blue racer by the TAIL that was
lying coiled up in the sunlight, In half colnatose
condition, and giving IL IL couple OF whrlS over his
head IN lightning manner, lie cracked IL like
whip causing its head 10 part from its body and
spin through the air. Proceeding little farther,
We caIne TO "the mounds little raised places on
the oiake-rarm, where The snakes burrow In WIN
ter and breed in summer. There are thirt y-seven
OF these mounds on the farm, and the south side
or one OF the largest OF these where they could get
the full benefit OF the sun, lay, cOlled up sound
asleep forty three large RAFT eSnake seven black
Snakes, and numerous other smaller reptiles not
one OF which seemed to recognize our presence
Slower and Dunn do not Kill off The whole crop
yearly, but leave many for breeding PURPOSES
why" said the former, "that mound there con-
talS probably dozen nests or eggs, and each nest
at least ten eggs. l have found nests that con-
tained as high as eighteen young rattlers The
largest not over Two inches in length. Their eggs
are about the size Oh those OF Partridge but have
sou shell. Inc farm Is tract or virgin prairie
aud has never seen pillow, and Dan says in sum-
Mer native grass is very high, rendering it an
excellent place for the reptiles 10 hide in"
Alter retiring TO the house, the two snake breed
ero exhibited a string or rattleS several feet in
length, which they Captured last summer the
whole footing up 16S rattleS.
Some Oh the Shakes possessed 25 rattles and
BUTTON each rattle counting year OF its age and
the button a Traction OF year.
Mrs. Slower also had in a box OF SawduSt under a
cOok-Stove "a rattleSnake eggs, which, she said
would begin TO hatch III few days, after which
event the children would be kept busy catching
lies TO feed the tiny pets.
Stover and Dunn have several pet rattlers
around the house. which are as harmless as Kit
tens, MADE 50 by their poison sac having been re-
fanss clipped with pincherS, all this being done
While the snakes were under the influence OF
chlorororm. Tney have no equal as mice exJer-
Inlnators, and Ill the summer keep the place Tree
from bugs, lles and bad boys
IL Is needless 10 say the neighbOrs' children do
not trouble the Slower household their premises
Besides supplying the Philadelphia firm with
Sn keS Tor their use, breeder, have filled orders
for different parties in all parts OF the country,
mostly physicians. A doctor in ST. Louis took
several i've pairs last summer at s. per pair.